How Many Children Does Frankie Avalon Have? The Teen Idol Feels Fortunate Living Close to All of Them

Frankie Avalon was the ultimate teen idol to millions of young women in the ’50s and ’60s. The South Philadelphia native managed to hold on to this image for some time after getting married to his wife Kathryn Diebel with whom he had many children.

Frankie Avalon met his wife Kathryn Diebel through a web of Hollywood friends and colleagues. The entertainer included the fettuccine Alfredo they enjoyed on their honeymoon in his cookbook.

The venues have shrunk from 6,000-seater venues to intimate dinner clubs in Las Vegas but Frankie’s loyal fans still show up when he takes the stage.

Frankie Avalon with his family during Starlight Foundation Benefit on September 22, 1988 at Ed Debevic’s Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images

How Many Children Does Frankie Avalon Have?

Frankie and his wife Kathryn have eight children: Frank Burt, Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn, and Carla. He told The Arizona Republic that all his children live within a 10-mile radius of him in Los Angeles.

In “Frankie Avalon’s Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom’s Kitchen to Mine and Yours,” the crooner shares anecdotes of his close family alongside the recipes he inherited from his mother:

“When the weather cooperates (which, I have to admit, is pretty often in Los Angeles), my sons and sons-in-law usually take over at the grill, and I sit back in the sun and enjoy being with my family. “

American actor and singer Frankie Avalon sits in the audience with his wife, Kathryn, and their two sons, as they attend the Dobritch International Circus on 16th March 1967. | Source: Getty Images

Is Frankie Avalon a Grandpa?

Frankie and Kathryn Sr. are proud grandparents of ten grandchildren: Jonathan, Patrick, Kathryn, Connor, Nicole, Meghan, Mason, Bridget, Johnny, and Tucker.

He confirmed that he got a tattoo of his wife’s name five decades ago to a shocked reporter at The Arizona Republic, who thought the ink was out of character for the clean-cut star.

When the entertainer is not on the road performing his lounge act half the year, he likes to have the whole family over for a traditional Italian Sunday dinner. He wrote about the importance of family rituals such as this in his cookbook.

The Avalon Kids in the Family Business

Eldest son Frank Jr., known professionally as Frank Burt Avalon, was a teen star like his dad. His first role was in the iconic teen martial arts film “The Karate Kid” as Chucky in 1984.

He followed his first blockbuster with single episodes on “CBS Schoolbreak Special,” “Airwolf,” and Roy’s Ski Buddy #1 in the John Cusack film “Better Off Dead…”

Frank Jr. and his brother, Tony, were members of the house band in “Back to the Beach,” the final installment of their dad’s beach movies with Annette Funicello in 1987.

Frankie Avalon with his son Tony during Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello Concert Tour at Calico Square, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images

The Children Behind the Scenes

Tony contributed “Stun Mullen” to the soundtrack of Brooke Shields’ romantic comedy “After Sex” in 2000 and worked in the music department of the 2005 animation “Kiddo: The Super-Truck.”

The second youngest sibling, Kathryn Jr, worked behind the scenes as a production assistant on the horror flick “Almost Dead” and “Fleetwood Mac: The Dance.”

She held the same role and later worked as a post-production assistant from 1995-1996 on Nickelodeon’s “The Secret World of Alex Mack.”

Frankie Avalon and family during SHARE “40 Years of SHARE” Celebration at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images

The First Child Out of the Nest

Eldest daughter Dina was the first Avalon child to tie the knot. Her wedding to John Blandin was held on June 1987 in the same North Hollywood chapel her parents said “I do” 25 years earlier and made The Sun Sentinel’s society pages.

Of the 150 people in attendance, there were only two other celebrities, Annette Funicello and Penny Singleton. The day had touches of humor, like when her brother Joseph took the pulpit to read a Bible verse only to find that there’s no holy book, to which the father-of-the-bride quipped:

“That’s OK, Joey. Ad-lib.”

Who Is Frankie Avalon’s Wife?

Frankie met Kathryn through her sister, Gretchen Wayne, the daughter-in-law of his co-star in “The Alamo,” John Wayne. He married the beauty queen he sweetly calls Kay on January 19, 1963, in West Hollywood.

He confirmed that he got a tattoo of his wife’s name five decades ago to a shocked reporter at The Arizona Republic, who thought the ink was out of character for the clean-cut star. During his famous beach movies, it took the make-up artists hours to cover it up.

When asked how he managed to stay married for over 50 years, he said they sustained their “wonderful relationship” as long due to their love and respect for each other.

The Fame of Frankie Avalon

Frankie was a trumpet prodigy before becoming a teen heartthrob with hits like “DeDe Dinah” and “Venus” in the late ’50s. When Beetlemania hit American shores in the ’60s, he pivoted to the silver screen.

Along with a string of “Beach Party” films that kick-started a whole subgenre of teen entertainment, he took dramatic turns in “The Dark,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and is proud of playing against type in “The Take.”

He has a memorable scene in the 1978 musical “Grease,” where he performs one of his biggest hits to this day, “Beauty School Dropout,” to Didi Conn’s Frenchy.

Frankie Avalon’s Later Career

The performer stayed in the industry much longer than other teen idols but admitted he has thought about retiring on occasion, only to dismiss it:

“How much golf can I play? I like to be busy. I do just enough, then take some time off. I just played Las Vegas; then I’ll take a few weeks off, then I’ve got to go to QVC and present my products there. I’m always looking to do something.”

Frankie concedes that some of his early hits like “DeDe Dinah” and “Ginger Bread,” while fun, are “middle of the road.” After a lifetime of reading his audience, he will still play those songs even if they’re not quite “rock n roll.”

He is unfazed by the lack of recognition from the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and gets his validation from touring six months of the year, headlining venues in the main rooms of Las Vegas hotels and the Copacabana in New York.

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